Grandstanding As NUP Claims Readiness To Eat Museveni’s Funds And Push His Removal

In the face of public outrage, the Robert Kyagulanyi-led opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has publicly declared its readiness to continue eating President Museveni’s money while asserting their commitment to removing him from power.

This statement comes following significant public backlash after the party’s request for financial support from the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) secretariat, which they have variously said is directly controlled by dictator Museveni which many perceived as a betrayal of NUP’s earlier stand against engaging with what they labeled as Museveni’s “dictator cash.”

The controversy erupted after Ugandans discovered a letter dated October 7, 2025, in which NUP pleaded with the IPOD secretariat for financial aid.

This was surprising to many, as the party had previously vowed to reject any association with Museveni’s regime.

The apparent reversal prompted widespread criticism from supporters and the general public alike, who began questioning NUP’s integrity and commitment to its anti-Museveni rhetoric.

NUP On Defensive

Acknowledging the growing discontent, NUP released a statement on October 10, 2025, signed by Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya.

In the grandstanding statement, the party sought to justify decision to join IPOD despite their past claims of being unwilling to collaborate with Museveni’s government.

“Following extensive public scrutiny, we have found it fairly decent to release an official statement to clarify our undesired but necessary decision to join IPOD,” the statement read.

The party with chest-thumping leaders cited a recent amendment to the Political Parties and Organizations Act (2005), which they claim made it mandatory for political parties to join either IPOD or the Forum for non-represented political parties.

In their usual flip-flopping style, they argued that this new law forced their hand.

“This made it mandatory for all political parties under the National Consultative Forum to either join IPOD or the Forum for non-represented political parties and organizations,” they explained.

Motivated By Money

Despite these justifications, critics argue that the move appears more motivated by a desire for financial gain than by any legal necessity.

NUP highlighted that even as the main opposition party, they have been denied a portion of government funding they claim they are entitled to under the constitution.

“In addition to this, NUP despite being the opposition party with the largest number of MPs, has since been denied a portion of government funding that it is rightly entitled to under the constitution,” they stated.

In an attempt to deflect criticism, NUP tried to clarify that the funding from IPOD is technically taxpayer money, rather than Museveni’s personal funds.

“This money is not Museveni’s money but Ugandan taxpayers’ money,” they claimed.

“We understand your anguish and are equally distressed by the impunity by the state and its apologists. As we challenge this injustice, we are equally cognizant that it is the current prevailing law that we too must abide,” they added.

Ironically, while the party argued that they are not interested in the funds being offered (which they still characterize as “dictator funds”), NUP continues to pursue involvement in IPOD for financial purposes.

However, in the same statement, they shamelessly accused all other political parties of being Museveni-funded ones in the name of IPOD funding yet the funds are drawn from the same source as the one they want to benefit from.

In their statement, they insisted, “We would like to assure all Ugandans that the sole purpose of joining IPOD is not to dine with the dictator or partake of the tokens he has been throwing at all other political parties in the name of IPOD funding.”

Despite the contradictory stance, NUP claims adamancy on the push for Museveni’s removal. “NUP is still on course with pursuing regime change and us joining IPOD will not in any way deter us from pushing Museveni out of power,” they concluded.

The party’s public relations efforts, however, seem insufficient to quell the growing discontent among NUP supporters, who feel betrayed by what they perceive as hypocrisy in NUP’s newfound willingness to accept Museveni’s financial aid.